A diet rich in tomatoes can cut skin cancer risk in half, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports. Pizza, heirloom tomato toast, and gazpacho have never looked so good – or so smart.

Researchers at the Ohio State University found that consuming tomatoes daily cut the risk of skin cancer tumors in mice by half, in the recent study.

Researchers fed male mice a diet made up of ten percent tomato powder for 35 weeks while exposing them to ultraviolet (UV) light. On average, the mice that consumed tomatoes experienced a 50 percent decrease in skin cancer tumors, as opposed to mice who did not consume tomatoes.

What makes tomatoes so skin-protective? The carotenoids, or plant pigments, found in tomatoes (and many other fruits and vegetables) act as photoprotectants, or mechanisms that protect against molecular damage caused by the sun’s harsh rays.

“Following consumption, carotenoids are deposited in the skin of humans where they are, in theory, present and able to protect from UV damage,” the researchers note.

“Lycopene, the primary carotenoid in tomatoes, has been shown to be the most effective singlet oxygen quencher of the carotenoids.”

Also found in watermelon, lycopene is the compound associated with the vibrant red color of tomatoes. Lycopene is also known for its anti-inflammatory effects and is thought to be protective against degenerative diseases including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Tomatoes are abundant in lycopene as well as several other beneficial antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Now in season, tomatoes are a delicious way to eat your way to healthy and protected skin. Enjoy them on pasta, avocado toast, eggs, salads, quinoa, and more.

]]>How to Check for Skin Cancer in 10 Minutes (and Maybe Save Your Life)http://www.organicauthority.com/%3Fp%3D30795
Fri, 15 Aug 2014 22:15:39 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/?p=30795 Do you know how to check for skin cancer? As summer wraps up, it’s worth remembering to check if you are entering the fall season with more than just a tan. No matter what your skin tone is and how well you think you’ve protected yourself from the summer sun, it is crucial to […]

As summer wraps up, it’s worth remembering to check if you are entering the fall season with more than just a tan. No matter what your skin tone is and how well you think you’ve protected yourself from the summer sun, it is crucial to do a monthly check for suspicious skin lesions. That way, you not only become more familiar with the landscape of your body but also stay ahead of any pre-cancerous or cancerous incidences. Here’s how to conduct a self-examination.

Every month, set aside approximately 10 minutes to do a possibly life-saving, painless procedure that simply requires glancing at all angles of your body. It’s a small investment that could be worth your life, and if you develop the monthly habit of doing so, it won’t feel like such a chore.

What most people forget is that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. with more than 2 million people diagnosed with it per year, making more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers. This means that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. Sometimes, sunscreen protection in the summer is not enough, as your skin is exposed to the sun even in the winter months. Because of this, melanoma can creep up on you when you least expect it.

Luckily, it is one of the easiest cancers to cure if it is diagnosed and treated early. Just in the way you take care of your diet and environment to avoid other cancers, you should also take care to inspect yourself of suspicious moles and other skin lesions.

The Skin Cancer Foundation is a great source for all your questions concerning skin cancer, including a how-to guide for self-examination. What you’ll need is a bright light (think of that unflattering public bathroom lighting), a full-length mirror, a pocket mirror, two chairs, a blow dryer and a pencil. Here’s what to look for and the steps to do it.

There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Because each has many different appearances, it is important to know the early warning signs. Look especially for change of any kind. Do not ignore a suspicious spot simply because it does not hurt. Skin cancers may be painless, but dangerous all the same. If you notice one or more of the warning signs, see a doctor right away, preferably one who specializes in diseases of the skin.

What to Look For

When you examine yourself, look for any of the following:

Skin growth that has increased in size and has a distinct color from the rest of your skin – pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored.

A mole that has changed shape, color, size or texture.

If a mole has become larger than 6 millimeters (1/4 inch or the size of a pencil eraser).

Irregular outlines of skin lesions.

An open sore that is painful, itches, or bleeds and isn’t healing.

If you spot any of these markers, go to a physician immediately.

How to Check for Skin Cancer

Let’s start with the face. Take a look in the mirror and scan the entire surface, including the edges of the lips, mouth, nose, neck, and ears. Use the pocket mirror to check your cheeks, all the way down to the neck.

Use a blow dryer to inspect your scalp. Turn the blow dryer on medium and scan it across your hair, inspecting the scalp as the air from the blow dryer exposes it for viewing. Separate your head into sections and methodically go about approaching one after the other so that you don’t miss any particular part. Use the large mirror and pocket mirror to get a good view.

Examine your hands, front to back and in between. Check your wrists and fingernails. Continue up your arms.

Stand in front of a full-length mirror. Place your arm above your head and rest your forearm on your head. Use this position to inspect your elbows, underarms and arms. Turn left and right to check out the skin from your underarm to your oblique areas.

Stand straight in front of the full-length mirror with your arms to your sides. Scan from your neck to over your breasts and down to your abdomen.

Turn you back to the full-length mirror and hold the pocket mirror in front of your face. Use the pocket mirror to inspect your back, starting from the neck down to your lower back, including the backs of your arms.

Continue in the same position to inspect your buttocks and the back of your legs.

Next, sit down in a chair and prop your leg up on another chair or stool. Use the hand mirror to thoroughly inspect your genitals before examining your legs, ankles, feet, toes (including in between them) and heels.

]]>Could that Mole be Skin Cancer? How to Tell For Surehttp://www.organicauthority.com/health/could-that-mole-be-skin-cancer.html
Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/s5-health/c8-health/could-that-mole-be-skin-cancer/When I was well into my 20s, I noticed a funny little brownish bump on my collarbone. it was probably less than a millimeter in diameter, and I thought it was probably just an ingrown hair that would vanish in a few days. But I still had nagging thoughts. Could it be skin cancer? Well, […]

When I was well into my 20s, I noticed a funny little brownish bump on my collarbone. it was probably less than a millimeter in diameter, and I thought it was probably just an ingrown hair that would vanish in a few days. But I still had nagging thoughts. Could it be skin cancer? Well, the days went by, and then weeks, and then two months (shame on me for waiting that long!), and then I started freaking out enough to finally go see the dermatologist. It turned out to be a small new mole—who knew you could keep getting them into your 30s?

If I would have taken the time to learn about the cancer warning signs, I could have spared myself a world of stress. While there’s no substitute for a skin exam—and you should always see your derm if you spot anything unusual—there are some telltale signs of skin cancer that can help you decipher that weird spot on your arm.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

These guys usually crop up on a part of your body that’s gotten plenty of sun exposure, especially the neck and face. They may look like light-colored waxy bumps, or like brown or skin-toned lesions.

Squamos Cell Carcinoma

These also occur on sun-soaked skin, often on the hands, ears and face. If you have darker skin, they could appear on areas that get less sun, like your legs. This type of cancer may appear as a hard, red bump or a flat, scaly lesion.

Melanoma

Melanoma may appear anywhere, but usually occurs on the torso, head or neck in men, or the lower legs of women. Sun exposure doesn’t dictate where melanoma appears, and moles that used to be benign can turn into this type of cancer. Scary.

Harmless Moles

Take a deep breath—most moles are completely harmless. The friendly ones are typically round and uniform in color, with well-defined borders. Look for symmetry, as most cancers have jagged or asymmetrical shapes.

When to See a Doctor

The key to catching skin cancer early is to look for changes in your skin. If you’ve had the same mole since high school and it’s never gotten bigger or changed shape, there’s probably nothing to worry about. If, like me, you notice a new mole, it’s a good idea to get it checked out. And if you notice any marks on your skin growing or changing colors, get to the dermatologist ASAP.

Prevention

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, but it’s highly treatable if you catch it early. As with most conditions, however, the best protection is prevention. This means always using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher—even when it’s cloudy out. And don’t even think about using tanning beds. The CDC recommends staying in the shade between 10am and 4pm and wearing a wide-brimmed hat during the day to protect your face, neck and ears. While you’re at it, protect your eyes from cataracts with wrap-around sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays. It doesn’t take much to guard against skin cancer, so take these few steps now for a healthy complexion your whole life long.

]]>Cancers of Sweat Glands, Skin Structures Increasinghttp://www.organicauthority.com/blog/health/cancers-of-sweat-glands-skin-structures-increasing/
Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:35:37 +0000http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/?p=7418Tumors of the hair, nails, sweat glands and mammary glands are rare, but rates appear to be rising in the United States, according to a study published in this month’s Archives of Dermatology. Caucasian men are more susceptible, reports lead author Patrick W. Blake of the National Cancer Institute, and risk increases with age. Researchers […]